Retention features for cable assembly of a pluggable connector

Abstract

A pluggable connector includes a plug body having a cavity and at least one latch and a cable assembly having electrical contacts and at least one cable terminated to corresponding electrical contacts. The cable assembly has a cable support body engaging and surrounding each electrical contact and each cable. The positions of the electrical contacts and cable are fixed relative to the cable support body. A retention clip is separately provided from and removably coupled to the cable support body. The retention clip has at least one retention tab extending therefrom being received in the cavity such that the retention tab engages the corresponding latch of the plug body to retain the cable assembly in the cavity.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A pluggable connector comprising:
 a plug body having a plug end and a cable end, the plug end configured to be mated with a communication component, the plug body having a cavity at the cable end, the plug body having at least one latch accessible to the cavity; 
 a cable assembly having a contact array of electrical contacts configured to engage corresponding contacts of the communication component, the cable assembly having at least one cable terminated to corresponding electrical contacts, the cable assembly having a cable support body manufactured from a first dielectric material, the cable support body engaging and surrounding at least a portion of each electrical contact and engaging and surrounding at least a portion of each at least one cable, the positions of the electrical contacts being fixed relative to the cable support body, the position of the at least one cable being fixed relative to the cable support body, the cable assembly being loaded into the cavity such that the at least one cable extends from the cable end of the plug body; and 
 a retention clip separately provided from and removably coupled to the cable support body, the retention clip being manufactured from a second dielectric material different from the first dielectric material having a higher shear strength than the first dielectric material, the retention clip having at least one retention tab extending therefrom, the retention clip being received in the cavity such that the at least one retention tab engages the corresponding at least one latch of the plug body to retain the cable assembly in the cavity. 
 
     
     
       2. A pluggable connector comprising:
 a plug body having a plug end and a cable end, the plug end configured to be mated with a communication component, the plug body having a cavity at the cable end, the plug body having at least one latch accessible to the cavity; 
 a cable assembly having a circuit board including a contact array of electrical contacts thereon, the cable assembly having at least one cable terminated to corresponding electrical contacts on the circuit board, the cable assembly having a cable support body molded in-situ over at least a portion of the circuit board and at least a portion of each at least one cable after the at least one cable is terminated to the electrical contacts, the position of the circuit board being fixed relative to the cable support body, the position of the at least one cable being fixed relative to the cable support body, the cable assembly being loaded into the cavity such that the at least one cable extends from the cable end of the plug body; and 
 a retention clip separately provided from and removably coupled to the cable support body, the retention clip having at least one retention tab extending therefrom, the retention clip being received in the cavity such that the at least one retention tab engages the corresponding at least one latch of the plug body to retain the cable assembly in the cavity, 
 wherein the cable support body is manufactured from a first dielectric material and the retention clip is manufactured from a second dielectric material different than the first dielectric material and having a greater shear strength than the first dielectric material. 
 
     
     
       3. The pluggable connector of  claim 2 , wherein the cable support body is molded in-situ over the circuit board and each at least one cable. 
     
     
       4. The pluggable connector of  claim 2 , wherein the electrical contacts comprise solder pads, wires of the at least one cable being soldered to the solder pads, the cable support body encasing the solder pads and the wires at termination locations of the wires to the solder pads. 
     
     
       5. A pluggable connector comprising:
 a plug body having a plug end and a cable end, the plug end configured to be mated with a communication component, the plug body having a cavity at the cable end, the plug body having at least one latch accessible to the cavity; 
 a cable assembly having a contact array of electrical contacts configured to engage corresponding contacts of the communication component, the cable assembly having at least one cable terminated to corresponding electrical contacts, the cable assembly having a cable support body engaging and surrounding at least a portion of each electrical contact and engaging and surrounding at least a portion of each at least one cable, the positions of the electrical contacts being fixed relative to the cable support body, the position of the at least one cable being fixed relative to the cable support body, the cable assembly being loaded into the cavity such that the at least one cable extends from the cable end of the plug body; and 
 a retention clip separately provided from and removably coupled to the cable support body, the retention clip having at least one retention tab extending therefrom, the retention clip being received in the cavity such that the at least one retention tab engages the corresponding at least one latch of the plug body to retain the cable assembly in the cavity, 
 wherein the retention clip is coupled to the cable support body prior to the cable support body and the retention clip being loaded into the cavity. 
 
     
     
       6. The pluggable connector of  claim 5 , wherein the cable support body is manufactured from a first dielectric material and the retention clip is manufactured from a second dielectric material different than the first dielectric material and having a greater shear strength than the first dielectric material. 
     
     
       7. The pluggable connector of  claim 5 , wherein the retention clip is provided at a rear of the cable support body to hold the cable support body in the cavity. 
     
     
       8. The pluggable connector of  claim 5 , wherein the retention clip blocks the cable support body from removal from the cavity. 
     
     
       9. The pluggable connector of  claim 5 , wherein the retention clip is U-shaped and extends along three sides of the cable support body. 
     
     
       10. The pluggable connector of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one latch includes a first latch on a first side of the cavity and a second latch on a second side of the cavity opposite the first side, the at least one retention tab includes first and second retention tabs extending outward from opposite sides of the retention clip for engagement with the first and second latches, respectively. 
     
     
       11. The pluggable connector of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one latch includes a pocket receiving the corresponding at least one retention tab and a latching wall engaging the corresponding at least one retention tab to retain the at least one retention tab in the pocket. 
     
     
       12. The pluggable connector of  claim 5 , wherein the cable support body includes a notch-out receiving the retention clip. 
     
     
       13. The pluggable connector of  claim 5 , wherein the retention clip is secured to the cable support body by an interference fit. 
     
     
       14. The pluggable connector of  claim 5 , wherein the cable support body is molded in-situ over each at least one cable. 
     
     
       15. The pluggable connector of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one cable comprises a plurality of cables, the cable support body surrounding each of the cables and located between the cables. 
     
     
       16. The pluggable connector of  claim 5 , wherein the cable assembly further comprises a first circuit board and a second circuit board comprising corresponding electrical contacts, the cable support body engaging and surrounding at least a portion of both of the first and second circuit boards. 
     
     
       17. The pluggable connector of  claim 5 , wherein the cable assembly further comprises a circuit board comprising the electrical contacts, the cable support body engaging and surrounding at least a portion of the circuit board. 
     
     
       18. The pluggable connector of  claim 17 , wherein the electrical contacts comprise solder pads, wires of the at least one cable being soldered to the solder pads, the cable support body encasing the solder pads and the wires at termination locations of the wires to the solder pads.